Back in a GMT400: 2000 C3500

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NotARealK2500

This'll be my last GMT400, I swear!
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Back in a GMT400 today, after having owned two before (1992 K2500, and a 1992 C1500). Probably going to hang onto this one for quite a while.

Picked her up for $2500 - 2000 C3500 with a 5.7/4L80E, 4.10 full floater, 148k California truck, rust free. Guy wanted it off his property way up in the middle of nowhere in Northern Idaho, sounds like he drove it up from Nevada and couldn't get it to start.

It was clean enough for the year and initially I just wanted a donor 350 for my Landcruiser, but it's looking more and more like I'm going to keep it as is and use it as my tow pig, so I figured I'd document the progress.

It's way too clean to part out. She deserves more.

What I've got planned:

Diagnose temperature issue (won't go above 110* on dash)
Diagnose low-RPM vibration from take-off (thinking carrier bearing)
Diagnose belt chirping sound (thinking idler or tensioner assembly)
New door handle (broken)
New starter (just clicks once and done)
New aftermarket radio (stock one doesn't work)
LED Headlights and everything else
Freshen up front grill
Fender flares
Rocker panels
Take off the yellowing canopy and go with bed rails/liner, or freshen up the paint
CB radio+antenna (lots of highway driving)
Vent visors for the hood and windows
Window Tint
New tires after this season (the current ones have great meat but are cracking and old)
Maybe tonneau cover if the canopy is beyond saving
Maybe paint the wheels
Eventually tackle some peeling paint issues (most notably on the driver's side bed)

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NotARealK2500

This'll be my last GMT400, I swear!
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Finally got some time to throw some part numbers at the new truck.

Figured out three things regarding the temp needle not moving: radiator cap was bad, thermostat was stuck open, and the temp sender was non functional (gauge pinged high when grounded, low at 5v as reference voltage). So all those got replaced. Temp needle is happy now, and the peace of mind that brings was worth its weight in gold.

Low-RPM vibration is 100% the carrier bearing. Shook the driveshaft, hot dog in a hallway, etc. Ordered one from Rock Auto, should be able to press the old one out on Monday when I can use the shop.

Idler and tensioner were factory GM parts, so those got replaced. Belt chirping went away. Yay.

Aftermarket stereo got installed, LED headlights from Amazon were plopped in (RIP everyone in oncoming traffic), premium Chinese fender flares were slapped on, yellowing canopy got listed on Craigslist, tonneau cover is on its way, stuck some el cheapo Westin bed rail protectors on, and rattlecanned the grille. Found a minty bedliner at the junkyard, slapped her in.

Replaced the starter, but figured out it was just the connection from the starter to the battery that fried itself. Seems like the exhaust melted through the conduit and it grounded out on the frame pretty good, so I got some fairly skookum cable and covered it in heat shielding. One crank, and she fired right up. The truck lives to chooch another day.

Found this garbage once I lifted the canopy though. Never buy ex-fleet trucks:banghead:

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Nice truck
Thanks my dude. Appreciated.
 
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NotARealK2500

This'll be my last GMT400, I swear!
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Anywho, I wired in a new pigtail, whipped out the Hazard Freight grinder and sprayed some duplicolor I had left over from my old K2500 some years back, and that's the way she goes. Decent 10-footer, wouldn't notice unless you were looking for it. Popped a CHMSL off a junker in there just to maker her legal.

She's looking a bit better. Gotta do something with the wheels and get some new shoes on her, though - the steelies are looking pretty dated.
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BNielsen

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Some Alcoas with the Chevy center caps and a set of tall skinny meaty tread tires would look pretty skookum on there.
Something about a simple build like this makes me want to find a bone stock truck to work on.
 

Sparkysikes

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Shoot its gonna be like when I got my 93.c3500. New front suspension.. New rear suspension new motor. New trans. New.... Well you get the idea. Keep her on the road for the future collectors of america
 
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